Arthur John "Jack" Thompson

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DailyTidings.com

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Posted May. 8, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Posted May. 8, 2014 at 2:00 AM

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Arthur John Thompson, known as "Jack", passed on to a new life and adventure at his home May 4, 2014. He is survived by his wife, Beverly; two daughters, Jan and Terry (Stuart Newton); and his grandchildren, Nathan, Adrien, Tyler, Lindsay, and Alyssia, who over the years have enjoyed flights in his airplane, fishing in and water-skiing behind his boat, meanderings in his tractor, and other "Grandpa Adventures". He is also survived by eleven, soon to be twelve, great-grandchildren.

Jack was born in Little Rock, Ark. and moved with his immediate and extended family to Tacoma, Wash. where he lived for eight years before moving with his mother to Juneau, Alaska. It was the beginning of many interesting adventures he would have throughout his life.

He graduated from high school in Juneau and afterwards was involved in business ventures, the fishing industry, and serving in WWII as 1st Mate aboard an Army transport ship.

In 1952 he married Beverly Atwood, a Utah native, who had come to Juneau to work for the Alaska Native Service. They settled in Anchorage where Jack worked as a journeyman electrician and welcomed two daughters into the family. Five years later they moved to Kenai where Jack would eventually open "Superior Building Supply", a business that he would build from the ground up and sell after seven successful years.

Jack and his family left their beloved Alaska home and moved to Ashland, Ore. to "get the perma-frost out of their bones". Though semi-retired, Jack built several homes in the Ashland area and continued to be involved in other business ventures in Alaska. He and Beverly enjoyed attending the Shakespeare plays, boating, fishing, camping, concerts in the park, and numerous picnic breakfasts in Lithia park.

He left his near retirement to open a new business in Ashland known as Handyman Plumbing and Electric. After five years he sold the business and settled into full retirement.

Jack delighted in sharing his love of boating, fishing, hiking, gardening, and flying his Cessna Skyhawk with his immediate and extended family and friends (whenever possible) and always with his faithful canine companion.

He was a truly genuine man with a friendly, outgoing nature, quick wit, strong work ethic, and generous heart.

To celebrate his life friends are invited to join his family at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, 2014 at Litwiller-Simonsen Funeral Home, 1811 Ashland St., Ashland. In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Jack's memory to Disabled American Veterans or Dogs for the Deaf, dogsforthedeaf.org, or mail to 10175 Wheeler Road, Central Point, OR 97502.